In November 1978, San Jose voters passed Measure F, which brought about “a metamorphosis of city politics unparalleled since the reforms at the turn of the century,” according to a San Jose Mercury News special report at the time.

This ballot measure instituted San Jose’s current legislative structure of ten City Council districts and the mayor. Formerly, a seven-member council (including the mayor) was elected by all the voters citywide.

Since 1978, voters have elected councilmembers from among candidates living within their district, plus the mayor who is elected “at large” citywide. Thus, the San Jose City Council was expanded from seven members to eleven.

With the subsequent release of decennial census data by the U.S. Census Bureau in the years 1980, 1990, and 2000, City Council district boundaries have been adjusted to meet legal requirements and San Jose’s own redistricting criteria.

For a visual comparison, click here to view a series of maps that illustrate the chronology of City Council district boundaries throughout this roughly 20-year timeframe.

Census Tracts

During the 2001 redistricting effort, staff prepared a series of “major features” maps for each City Council District, which maps identified the locations of various community assets such as parks, schools, libraries, hospitals, regional shopping centers, airports, historic districts, neighborhood business districts, and other important points of interest. While these maps are now somewhat out-of-date, they still have considerable value in informing stakeholders of the 2011 redistricting process about a host of potential “communities of interest.” As such, while these maps are still accessible from the archival redistricting website (see the “quick links” item on the right-hand navigation bar), for your convenience these “major features” map links are replicated below.